of waiting for this teaching to commence. The Spirit has already revealed them. The Sovereign Teacher deals in “all things” and “the deep things of God.” Let the world boast itself of its high-sounding philosophies and world outlooks. It is as blind as a bat when it comes to the deep things of God. The well is indeed deep, and they have not wherewith to draw (1 Cor. 1:21). Fourth ly, it is in the very nature of things that those con stituted on the same plane and level of life should understand experiences common to them. Angels know how angels think and feel and react. Men know how men feel and respond. But man cannot tell what goes on in the realm of the angels, for it is above him. How, then, can he be expected to discern what transpires on the divine plane, unless a divine person discloses it to him? And, finally, this is precisely where the Holy Spirit comes in, for He does just that. He has been given to us for the unveiling of truth beyond human ken and com prehension. But a word of caution is in order here. On the basis of these truths and the statement in 1 John 2:27, some have minimized the function of any teaching from human teachers. This cannot be the intent of Scripture, for God Himself set teachers in the church for the edifying of the saints (Eph. 4:12). Furthermore, the Lord used human channels in imparting truth, for all the books of the New Testament were penned by Spirit-directed teachers. The apostle John is insisting that, although the Spirit may use men to teach us, our final expectation is to be the Lord the Spirit Himself. THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT This phase of the ministries of the Holy Spirit has suffered as much at the hands of both friends and ene mies as any other, or perhaps more than all of them. Errors of interpretation and fanaticism have wrought havoc in this area, not only in days past but today as well. Confusion exists on what the filling of the Spirit it, what the conditions are for realizing the filling of the Spirit, and what the expected manifestations of the Spirit- filled life are. Only a careful and accurate exposition of Scripture will lead one out of the maze of confusion that surrounds this doctrine which is freighted with so much blessing for the child of God. In order to ;set the discussion in the proper light cer tain distinctions must be made. The filling of the Spirit is more often confused with the baptism of the Spirit than with any other ministry of the Holy Spirit. Actually, this is inexcusable, for the Word of God could not be plainer on the: vital contrasts between these essential activities of thè Spirit. As to scope, the baptism of the Holy Spirit expends to all believers (1 Cor. 12:13). The filling is for those only who obey the conditions (Eph. 5:18). As to performance, the baptism is once for all at the time of salvation and is unchangeable. The filling may take place after salvation and is to be repeated, the more often the better. As to relationship, the baptism of the Spirit is a feature of salvation; the filling is a basis for rewards for Spirit-led service. As to objective, the baptism joins the believer to Christ eternally, and has to do with; standing. The filling is for empowering and for manifesting the work of God in life and service, and relates to Sitate or condition. With regard to feeling, in the matter of the baptism of the Spirit there is no experience or feeling. On the other hand, all blessings and power are connected with His filling. As for ex hortation, the believer is nowhere urged to be baptized by the Spirit. He is exhorted to be filled repeatedly. Fi nally, the condition for the baptism is receiving Christ as Saviour. In the case of the filling the proper acceptance (continued on next page) 25
prepared hearts of His children. Nor does He omit that area of truth from which so many Christians care to hear nothing, namely, things to come or prophecy or escha tology. The Spirit of God loves to dwell there, because in this sphere of truth are the events which will vindi cate the words and work of Christ. It is in the consum mation of all things that the Christ of God will receive His rightful due. Furthermore, the aim of the Spirit in His teaching (in all teaching there must be a pedagogical objective) is to glorify the Lord Jesus. To this end He constantly dwells on the things of Christ, His excellence, His words, His works, His redemption, His love, and much more, and does not tire of presenting them and presenting them again to believers. And the Spirit never runs out of subject matter, for when He takes of Christ’s things,
The author, Dean of the Talbot Theological Seminary, has the privilege of adjusting the hood of his son, Paul Feinberg, one of the graduates of the Seminary this year. He is actually taking the things of God the Father. They have all things in common. What a school of instruction! What an Instructor! What a curriculum! What honest child of God would desire to play truant? But what happened to this promise of the Lord after He ascended to the Father? Is there any record of it after the Day of Pentecost? The implementation of the prom ise is recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (ASV) in these words: “But as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.” Compare carefully these Spirit-directed words of Paul with the promise of Christ in John 16. Is not the Corinthian passage an incomparable commentary on that promise of the Saviour? And what do we find? First of all, we are reminded that there are three normal and usual avenues for men to receive knowledge, that is, by way of the eye, by way of the ear, and by way of the reflective processes. Secondly, the truth which God wishes to bestow does not issue from these areas, although it may utilize them ultimate ly. For the believer there is another and higher chan nel; it is the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, it is not a matter
AUGUST, 1963
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker